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Pumpkin Powered Workout

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Put down those Halloween sweets and get up on your feet! Earn that PSL you can’t resist and change up your workout routine turning your fitness game into a festive sweat sesh. The only equipment needed is a pumpkin (size of your choice) and enough space to get your muscles working. This full body workout burns so good it’s almost scary!

ARMS

Pumpkin Push-Ups

Begin in a plank position with pumpkin directly below your chest. Feet are hip distance apart. Slowly lower yourself down, hugging your elbows in towards your torso. Stop once your shoulders are in line with your elbows. Press into your palms as your body rises back up into plank position. Do three sets of 10 reps.

Trick-or-Treat Triceps

Place feet hip distance apart with one foot staggered slightly behind the other. Lift pumpkin over head, bending at the elbows so that they point towards the sky, while lowering the pumpkin behind your head. Start to straighten back through your arms as the pumpkin comes back overhead. Do three sets of 10 reps.

LEGS

Twisted Reverse Lunge

Begin standing with feet together and extend your arms away from your body holding the pumpkin out in front of your chest. Step back with one foot, bending both knees until your front leg reaches a 90 degree angle. Make sure your back heel is lifted as you sink down into your legs. Engage your core to protect your spine by drawing your ribs down and pulling your belly button in towards your spine. Turn your body away from the leg in the back (i.e. step your right leg back and twist to the left). Bring your leg back to center and switch. Repeat this movement on the opposite side, and once both sides are complete that counts as one rep. Do two sets of 15 reps.

Pumpkin Push Squats

Stand with feet wider than your shoulders, pumpkin is held at sternum height. Start to sit back pushing hips out behind you as if you were about to sit in a low chair. Chest stays lifted and weight is in your heels. Be mindful that your knees are not passing over your ankles. Push down through your heels as you rise back up, while pushing your pumpkin overhead simultaneously. Do three sets of 15 reps.

Spooky Sumo Squats

Begin standing feet out wide, in a straddle position. Heels are turned in as your toes face out with the pumpkin resting on the ground beneath you. Bend your knees and get low for your pumpkin! Shoulders should be stacked over hips to create on long line down your spine. Weight is in your heels as you reach down for your pumpkin with straight arms. Rise back up as you straighten through your legs as you lift your pumpkin up overhead. Do three sets of 15 reps.

Scary Side Squats

Stand with feet touching and holding your pumpkin at your chest. Step one foot out to the side and lunge down into a low squat. Chest is lifted while lowering pumpkin to the floor, protecting your low back. Also, be mindful of your knee passing over your ankle while lunging. Push off the side to which you lunged, bringing yourself back to center. Repeat on the other side. Once both sides are complete that counts as one rep. Do three sets of 15 reps.

CORE

Boo-tiful Obliques

Take a seat on the ground, holding your pumpkin up at chest height with bent elbows. Slowly begin to lean back onto your sitting bones avoiding any rounding in your back. Engage your core by drawing your belly button in towards your spine. You can keep your feet placed on the ground or lift them up to a hover with shins parallel to the sky for an added challenge. Gently twist your core and pumpkin to one side, then slowly alternate to the opposite side. Do two sets of 20 reps.

Wicked Sit-Ups

Lay down onto your back with your knees bent and feet placed on the floor. Arms should be extend overhead holding your pumpkin. Inhale deeply and as you exhale start to sit up using your core muscles to lift first your head, then shoulders with the pumpkin to follow. Hold at the top for a second and gently release back down to the ground one vertebrae at a time. Do two sets of 25 reps.

Fang-tastic Toe Sit-Ups

Stay laying down, but with your arms extended above your shoulders like you’re pushing the pumpkin towards the sky. Lift legs so your feet are above your hips. Take a deep breath in, exhale lifting your upper back off the ground and pushing the pumpkin towards your toes. Inhale as you lower yourself back down. Do two sets of 25 reps.

Dorm Room Workout

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Happy official 1st day of fall! Isn’t it crazy how this semester is nearly half way over? If your fitness routine has been pushed to the side, don’t worry! We’ve got you covered with this quick and easy workout to get you back on track before the holidays arrive. We recommend using a pair of dumbbells for some of the exercises below (weight of your choice). No weights? No problem! Feel free to use two water bottles of the same size. This workout is ideal for any time of day, so do it when it is most convenient for you. Use it as a quick study break, or try it first thing in the morning paired with an Organic Chia Energy Beverage for an added lift! Now, what are you waiting for? Grab a friend for some extra motivation and start getting sweaty!

Power Up with Chia Seeds

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Power up and give your workout an added boost by consuming chia seeds for energy! A tablespoon of these nutritious seeds are the perfect ingredient to incorporate into pre-workout snacks like protein bites or chia pudding. Our Chia Energy Beverage is also a quick way to hydrate prior to an intense workout, plus you get the added kick of natural caffeine from guayusa. Why does chia give you energy? Well, these tiny seeds are packed with protein, fiber, and omega-3s to provide a balanced ratio of nutrition! Avoid spikes and drops in your blood sugar or insulin levels by consuming these powerful seeds to fuel your body, keeping it happy and satisfied throughout your entire work out.

Combine this pre-workout nutrition with a quick 5 minute ab routine and take your fitness regimen up a notch! Set time aside at the beginning or end of your workout and tighten your core with this speedy combo of exercises for tighter abs. This workout requires no extra equipment, so feel free to get your heart rate pumping wherever your day takes you!

First, warm up your body. Sit back into Child’s Pose to open your hips for a few breaths. Slowly rise to a tabletop position and flow through Cow and Cat Pose to warm up your back and begin to engage your core. Inhale as you drop your belly for Cow and exhale as you arch your back up to the sky, drawing your belly in for Cat. Move one breath to one movement until your body is ready for the core workout.

*Please listen to the wisdom of your body while attempting the following routine. Each movement will be performed non-stop for 1 minute without any pauses in between each exercise.

Mountain Climbers

Return to a neutral tabletop position and extend one leg out straight behind you, one at a time, to set yourself up into a plank position. Shoulders will be stacked directly over wrists, belly button is drawn up and in towards your spine. Create a straight line with your body and tense your quads to fully engage your body. Have a clock or stopwatch handy to keep track of when you need to switch to the next ab exercise. Start the clock and one knee at a time begin to pull them in towards your chest, alternating each leg for 1 minute. Remember to keep a flat spine throughout this movement and to work at your own pace!

Superman Planks

In this round, you will alternate between lifting the opposite arm with the opposite leg at the same time, while in a plank position and keeping your core pulled in tight. Begin by lifting your left arm and right leg at the same time until arm is shoulder height and leg is hip height. Switch arms and legs, lifting your right arm and left leg this time. Alternate between each side for 1 minute.

Side Plank Crunches

Lay on your right side and drop down onto your elbow, being mindful that your shoulder is stacked directly over your elbow with your fingertips pointing in the same direction that you are facing. Spin to the outside of your right ankle and stack the left ankle on top, lifting your hips up to the sky while pressing down with your palm. Extend your left arm overhead and lift the left leg up to match. Crunch your left elbow in to meet your left knee and extend back straight. Repeat this movement for 30 seconds then switch sides. Remember to try to not take any breaks in between transitioning.

V-Ups Crunch

Take a seat and slowly lower down onto your back one vertebrae at a time. Legs are extended straight, arms are stretched overhead. For 1 minute you will crunch up, bringing your knees in toward your chest as you rise up onto your sitting bones. Lift your heart forward rather than hunching your shoulders, allowing you to use all of your core strength to sit up. Make sure you aren’t using the weight of your arms to hoist you up and keep shins parallel to the sky as you lift.

Windshield Wipers

Time to target your obliques! Return your back to the floor and extend your arms out to a “T” by your sides. Lift your legs back up if they aren’t already. Keeping your legs as straight as possible above your hips, alternate leaning your legs to the left and right. Remember to pause for a second in the middle before switching to the other side so you are in control and gentle on your lower back. Press into your palms to keep you grounded and stable.

After you’ve completed the ab workout flip over onto your belly and press yourself into Cobra pose to stretch your core and relieve it of the heat you created. Repeat this workout as much as you desire!